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Loz Kaye: a Micro-Manifesto for #GE2017

Once again we seem to be getting a 'presidential' General Election, with focus on the big two (English) party leaders. Worryingly, there seems to be a move away from localism and inclusive democracy, for example the Conservative manifesto proposes removing the proportional representation element from the London Assembly.

What if we turned it all on its head? What if we said the most important area for democracy and the society we want is not Westminster, not Holyrood, not County Hall, not the Town Hall but the neighbourhood?

What if the actions for change, and the decisions about what sustains us - food, an opportunity to work, and an opportunity to have some fun - were taken at the neighbourhood level? (For politics nerds, this would be polling district level.)

So that would be the big idea. And here's a micro-manifesto for the micro-level in 10 ideas (with 10 links). Goals for these ideas would be set at the neighbourhood level.

ONE: There will be free food available for each neighbourhood in a "People's Fridge" scheme. No strings attached, not out of charity just as an act of sharing.

NINE: There will be an "imaginarum" in every neighbourhood, a mobile discussion and consultation resource to stimulate new ideas for each neighbourhood. Any major development in a neighbourhood will first go through the imaginarium before submitting planning applications.